Pipetting apparatus

ABSTRACT

A pipetting apparatus for dispensing blood serum or blood plasma from a collection tube comprises a plate having a tubular spike protruding from one side and a spout protruding from the other side. The spike includes a dual conduit for providing a passageway for liquid to be dispensed from the tube and a passageway for gas to be introduced into the tube. The spike is pierced through a stopper of the collection tube and held in place with a holder that provides a leak-proof connection between the gas passageway and a supply of gas that is introduced into the passageway to force liquid out of the collection tube via the liquid passageway.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention refers to a method and apparatus for dispensing apredetermined volume of liquid from a closed, liquid-containing bloodcollection tube into a receiving vessel. In particular, the inventionpertains to dispensing blood plasma or blood sera from a closed bloodcollection tube for use in clinical analyses.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

Major sources for concern in clinical laboratories are the safety, costsand efficiency of the normal procedures for preparation of specimens,such as blood, prior to analysis. Blood specimens for clinical analysesare commonly collected in evacuated blood collection tubes. Serum orplasma may be isolated from the cellular material by centrifugation andtransferred or aliquotted to one or more specialized sample vessels.These sample vessels are used to introduce a portion of the specimen tochemical analyzers.

The hazards, labour and errors associated with these preanalyticaccessioning procedures could be reduced by automation.

Several aspects of the aliquotting procedure must receive criticalattention:

(1) The process exposes laboratory personnel to the hazard of directcontact with a biological fluid which may contain infectious agents suchas hepatitis or acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). Technologywhich reduces or prevents the direct contact by permitting automatedremoval of serum or plasma from the blood collection tube, without needto remove the stopper would considerably reduce the hazard.

(2) Manual handling of glass apparati (syringes, blood collection tubes,pipettes) exposes technologists to hazards of spillage and breakage andmay result in the loss of a specimen of high clinical value. Ideally asample of serum or plasma should be transferred directly from thecollection tube to the recipient vessel without the need to manipulatean intermediary transfer device.

(3) There are many different analyzers in common use. These may haveunique sampling vessels. Multiple aliquots must often be prepared fromone patient blood specimen into a variety of specialized sample vesselsfor use in different analyzers. A useful technology would be able to usea wide variety of sample vessels. It would respond to an input signalwhich identified the analysis required. It would then select andposition the appropriate vessel to receive the aliquot(s).

(4) It is often necessary to exclude suspended fibrinous or cellularmaterial, e.g., red blood cells, which may interfere with analyses. Adesirable feature of technology for dispensing serum or plasma would bea mechanical filter to remove any suspended particulate material.

(5) The volume transferred may have to be accurately metered, both toconserve the specimen and to provide an optimal amount for a particularanalyzer. An automated aliquotter should be able to sense the amount ofserum or plasma available and dispense controlled volumes into thevarious aliquot recipient vessels.

(6) Positive identification of the aliquot, e.g., by label, is necessarysince a sample is being transferred from one vessel to another and manyother specimens of similar appearance may be handled at the same time. Adevice for automated accessioning should ensure continuity of identityfrom the source container (blood collection tube) to each of thealiquots. A preferred means of identity would be a label with a uniqueidentifier which is generated or transferred to the recipient vessel.

(7) Any apparatus which is used to convey sample from a source tube toan aliquot vessel should either be used only once or be thoroughlycleaned between uses. Carry over of less than 1 part per million isdesirable and ideally ought to be nil.

(8) Further analyses on any individual or group of specimens may benecessary at a later time, consequently any unused sample is oftenstored for several days. This must be protected from the effects ofevaporation and preserved, usually by refrigeration. The ideal deviceshould prevent evaporation and accidental contamination of the specimenbut facilitate removal of further aliquots at a later time.

Conventional sample aliquotting is labor-intensive and has not generallybeen automated to the same degree as other procedures in clinicallaboratories. Automation of sample aliquotting could effectively isolatelaboratory personnel from the dangers of blood processing whileincreasing the speed and efficiency of the overall analytical procedure.

For most analyses of centrifuged blood samples it is necessary todispense a portion of the sample to alternate containers such asanalyzer sample cups. This is done in a number of ways.

In the usual procedure a technologist takes a blood collection tubewhich has been centrifuged and opens it by removing the stopper from thetop. This may create aerosols or splash droplets of infectious serum.Many blood collection tubes are made of glass and the force required toremove the stopper occasionally results in a broken tube. Open or brokentubes increase the risk of sample loss and infectious hazard to thetechnologist.

A simple disposable transfer pipette is often used to transfer a portionof the serum or plasma. Another popular method of dispensing a sample isto decant an aliquot into the additional recipient containers. If thismethod is used the blood collection tube must also contain a gel orother barrier such as in U.S. Pat. No. 3,852,194 to Zine to preventcellular material from being decanted with the serum or plasma. Thismethod is even more hazardous than the first because considerable careand skill is required to decant a small volume of serum or plasma andnot to spill any.

Some devices have been made which attempt to address these hazards. Onesuch device is the Tip-Top (TM) Dispenser Cap made by HelenaLaboratories of Beaumont TX 77704-0752. The Tip Top dispenser isfastened to the open end of a centrifuged blood collection tube,inverted, and then squeezed causing a portion of the sample to bedispensed through an orifice to a sample cup. A disadvantage of the TipTop dispenser and others like it is that removal of the blood collectiontube stopper, a hazardous manual step, is required.

The Pumpette (TM) from Helena Laboratories, Beaumont Tex. 77704-0752 isa disposable, manually operated device which does not require stopperremoval to dispense a blood sample from a blood collection tube.However, it delivers only a small stream of serum and its use is slowand cumbersome if large numbers of specimens must be aliquotted quickly.

The CleanTech (TM) system made by CleanTech SCI AG, Langenthal CH-4900,Switzerland consists of several components including a cannula topuncture the stopper, a machine to insert the cannula into the stopper,a pipette to access the sample through the stopper and a pump whichfastens to the pipette to draw the sample from the tube. This devicegoes far to address the hazards of dispensing a sample, but it is arelatively complex device and requires several steps to use.

An important innovation would provide cleaner separation and mechanicalfiltration of the serum. It is an advantage to detect and avoidaspiration of any fibrous material or to filter it out. Modern analyzerstend to have tiny orifices which are easily clogged by the small clotsof fibrin suspended in the serum which may remain or be formed aftercentrifugation. Some clinical chemistry laboratories filter all serum asa precaution. Filtration may be achieved by a device which is insertedinto the open end of the collection tube after centrifugation andpermits the one-way flow of serum from the collection tube into aseparate sampling container through a filter which prevents fibrin frompassing into the serum or plasma sample. Such filtration devices aredescribed, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,464,254 by Dojki and aremanufactured and distributed under the name of "serum/plasma filter" byW. Sarstedt, Inc. Other devices have been described by U.S. Pat. No.3,929,646 by Adler, U.S. Pat. No. 4,602,995 by Cassaday, U.S. Pat. No.4,487,696 by Ferrara and U.S. Pat. No. 4,142,668 by Lee. However, theiruse requires additional manipulation of the collection tube, consequentexposure of the user to the blood specimen and risk of contamination ofthe sample.

A variety of devices have been suggested and used with which sampling isaccomplished by means of a cannula inserted through the stopper of ablood collection tube, e.g. Seebaugh WR et al: An automated device foraseptically aspirating serum from blood collection tubes. IEEETransactions on Biomedical Engineering Vol. BME: 33, No. Jun. 6, 1986,pp 610-616. Such a device may either penetrate the stopper with a largecannula and then insert a smaller one into the serum through the largeone (such as on the Paramax (R) Closed Container Sampling (TM) byBaxter, Irvine Calif. 92718; or directly through the stopper as in theSerumax (TM) by Medical Robotics, Inc., Lexington, Ky. 40510. Suchsystems aspirate part or all of the serum and transfer it to anothervessel or directly to the analyzer. A disadvantage of these systems isthe need to thoroughly wash all surfaces which contact the serum toreduce analyte carryover from one specimen to another.

Another difficulty with systems which require washing of componentswhich contact the analyte is dilution of the specimen. Systems whichrequire washing generally leave a small residue of water in them afterrinsing which then mixes with the next portion of analyte draw into thesystem. This extra water dilutes the analyte thereby disturbinganalytical results.

Some blood collection tubes have been designed to directly incorporate ameans to dispense serum, for example U.S. Pat. No. 4,169,060 byColumbus, but these require that all blood specimens be collected insuch tubes.

With any cannula which reaches into the serum there is a danger ofpenetrating or aspirating some of the gel separator material used insome types of blood collection tubes. The Helena Pumpette (TM) has thisrisk if the operator pushes the fine aspiration tube too far into thetube. The device described by Seebaugh has sensors to detect the gellayer and avoid its penetration by the cannula.

Most systems in the prior art sample from upright tubes and all sufferfrom the difficulty of monitoring and controlling the depth of sampling.One way to avoid such problems is to sample from closed, inverted tubes.In this way the specimen may be accessed in a way that does not requirevariable-depth sampling. Some have used this method of sampling, butthese systems still have the problems of carryover and dilution.

Aliquots of plasma may be prepared from whole blood with a device suchas U.S. Pat. No. 4,847,205 by Burtis. However, the aliquots are verysmall, being centrifugally distributed into capillaries and the bloodmust be collected by another apparatus such as a syringe or evacuatedblood collection tube and then transferred to this device.

Largely automated aliquotting can be performed with devices such as theTecan Robotic Sample Processor by Tecan AG, 8634 Hombrechitikon,Switzerland. These devices typically have racks or trays which hold thespecimen tube and the vessels for which the aliquots are destined. Asample probe or cannula connected to a pump is manipulated automaticallyto sip and dispense sample. These devices are generally too inflexibleto be of use for the primary aliquotting of samples. They are mostsuitable for the final dispensing, dilution and sample preparation for aparticular analysis, with restricted size and shape of sample andaliquot vessels. Similar robotic systems such as described by U.S. Pat.No. 4,927,545 by Roginski are more flexible in their ability to beadapted to a variety of vessels but require complex programming and useup a great deal of space.

The recipient aliquot containers or sample cups must then be labelled tomatch the source tube. After one or more aliquots have been dispensedthe source tube is usually capped to prevent spillage and evaporationand stored for several days. Occasionally this tube is recovered fromstorage and more serum or plasma is removed for further testing. Theadditional cap is an added expense, whereas if the original stopper isused there is increased contact with the hazardous biological fluid.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for dispensinga liquid such as blood, blood sera, or blood plasma from a closed,liquid-containing blood collection tube.

The invention includes an apparatus having a dual conduit providing agas passage way for gas to be introduced into a blood collection tubeand providing a liquid passage way for liquid to be dispensed out fromthe blood collection tube. The apparatus also includes a means forinserting the dual conduit into the blood collection tube and a meansfor rotating the blood collection tube away from a vertical, uprightorientation. Also included is a means for connecting a gas supply to thegas passage way of the dual conduit and a means for displacing, inresponse to a signal, a volume of gas into the tube through the gaspassage way to displace a predetermined volume of liquid from the tube.A means of controlling the operations of the apparatus is alsodescribed.

Also disclosed is a method including the steps of : inserting a dualconduit means into a blood collection tube in response to a generatedsignal, connecting a gas supply to the gas passage way of the dualconduit means, rotating the blood collection tube away from a vertical,upright orientation, introducing a volume of gas into the bloodcollection tube through the gas passage way, receiving from the bloodcollection tube through the liquid passage way of the dual conduit apredetermined volume of liquid, and disconnecting the gas supply fromthe gas passage way. Also included is a method of controlling theprocess.

Also described is a liquid sensing means for generating a signalrepresentative of the amount of liquid contained within a bloodcollection tube, a data input means for indicating the amount of liquidto be dispensed from a blood collection tube, and a control means toregulate the introduction of a gas into a blood collection tubeaccording to a comparison of signals provided by the data input meansand the liquid sensing means.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1a shows the automated aliquotter module indicating the position ofthe analyzer tray containing analyzer cups.

FIG. 1b shows another view of the automated aliquotter moduleillustrating the input and output trays for blood collection tubes.

FIG. 2a shows the disposable pipetter which is used within the automatedaliquotter module, or a manually operated embodiment of the aliquotter,to facilitate dispensing of serum/plasma from a closed blood collectiontube.

FIG. 2b shows a disposable pipetter used with a centrifuged bloodcollection tube.

FIG. 3a shows an automated aliquotter module inserting a disposablepipetter into the stopper of a closed blood tube.

FIG. 3b shows a disposable pipetter having been inserted through thestopper of a closed blood tube.

FIG. 3c, the automated aliquotter module having inverted a tube isdispensing fluid through a disposable pipetter into an analyzer cup.

FIG. 3d shows a blood tube which has had a portion of its contentsdispensed being ejected from the automated aliquotting module.

FIG. 4 shows the mechanisms used to manipulate a sample tube within thealiquotter module and to facilitate dispensing of fluid from a sampletube illustrating the operation of the automated aliquotter.

FIG. 5a shows tubes in an input region and how the automated aliquottermodule receives a single tube to be aliquotted.

FIG. 5b shows the automated aliquotter positioning a blood tube in anupright position to receive a disposable pipetter.

FIG. 5c shows the aliquotter inverting a blood tube in order to dispensea portion of the liquid contained within it into an analyzer cup.

FIG. 5d shows the aliquotter ejecting a tube that has been aliquotted.

FIG. 6 shows a hand-operated implementation of the aliquotter module foruse in a non-automated environment.

FIG. 7 shows a cross-sectional view of the hand-operated aliquotterindicating how its functions are accomplished.

FIG. 8 shows the process control system for the automated aliquotter.

FIG. 9 shows an alternate embodiment of the present invention which usesa partial inversion to dispense samples which have no cell/serumbarrier.

DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS

The present invention is an apparatus for dispensing a specimen ofliquid from a closed container and directing the liquid into one or moresubcontainers. More specifically, the present invention is an apparatusfor dispensing blood, blood sera or blood plasma from a blood collectiontube into analyzer sample cups to be used within automated bloodanalyzers. In the following description the disposable component of theinvention is termed "disposable pipetter" and the machine component istermed "aliquotter module".

FIG. 1a shows one view of the preferred embodiment of the presentinvention showing the general form of the machine component as it wouldappear in use. An analyzer tray 12 is shown positioned in output bay 18of the aliquotter module 2. The analyzer tray 12 holds a multiplicity ofsmall analyzer cups 16 which receive a portion of liquid from a bloodcollection tube being processed within aliquotter module 2. When anumber of analyzer cups have received a liquid portion, the analyzertray 12 is manually removed from the aliquotter module 2 and placed intoan automated analyzer, such as are common in many clinical laboratories,where the dispensed portions are analyzed. FIG. 1b shows another view ofthe aliquotter module 2 better showing the input tray 8 and output tray10. Input tray 8 receives one or more blood tubes 4 which areindividually received and processed by aliquotter module 2. Output tray10 receives blood tubes 4 one by one from aliquotter module 2 after aportion of each one's contents have been dispensed. The tubes in outputtray 10 are periodically removed by hand to be stored for laterreference or are disposed of.

Again referring to FIGS. 1a and 1b, aliquotter module 2 receives aliquid-containing blood tube in input tray 8, accepts the blood tubefrom the input tray, identifies the blood tube using a barcode reader,measures the quantity of liquid within the blood tube, dispenses theliquid contained within the tube into one or more analyzer cups 16 whichare located in analyzer tray 12, and then ejects the processed bloodtube into output tray 10. The amount of liquid to be dispensed in eachdispensing operation is predetermined on the basis of information aboutthe sample such as analyte volume, sample quality, test requisitions andtest priority. Aliquotter module 2, having dispensed from a blood tube apredetermined amount of liquid into one or more analyzer cups 16, thenejects the blood tube from the aliquotter into output tray 10. Analyzertray 12 may then be removed from the apparatus by the operator to betaken to the appropriate analyzer for analysis of the liquid containedin the analyzer cups.

Still referring to FIG. 1b, the preferred embodiment of aliquottermodule 2 has a keyboard 20 for data input and a display screen 22 torelay important information to an operator. The keyboard 20 allows auser to control the parameters of the machine and to input informationregarding a blood sample that is being aliquotted by the apparatus. Thedisplay screen 22 provides a confirmation of what has been typed on thekeyboard as well as supplying error messages and information about saidblood sample. The keyboard and display portions of the apparatus are ofa type found on many electronic devices.

FIG. 2a shows disposable pipetter 24 which is used within the aliquottermodule 2 of FIGS. 1a and 1b or within a manually operated aliquottingdevice (depicted in FIG. 6) to dispense a portion of liquid from aclosed, liquid-containing blood collection tube. Disposable pipetter 24is preferably injection molded in one piece of polystyrene or othersubstantially hard plastic. Disposable pipetter 24 is fashioned so asallow liquid to be expressed from a blood tube 4 by providing for a gassuch as air to be forced into the tube (pressurizing the interior of thetube) causing liquid to be expressed from the tube through serum conduit30. The disposable pipetter comprises a stopper spike 26, base plate 28,serum conduit 30, air inputs 32, air groove 34, and serum spout 36. Airgroove 34 is made small enough to allow the passage of pressurized gasinto the tube, but to resist the flow of fluid out of the blood tube.

FIG. 2b shows the disposable pipetter 24 as it appears in use. Thestopper spike 26 punctures tube stopper 14 and the pipetter 24 is pushedonto the tube stopper until the base plate 28 is comes to rest againstthe stopper rim 40. The disposable pipetter 24 is held against thestopper (by a mechanism depicted in FIGS. 3 and 4) causing plate 28 toseat against the stopper rim 40 thereby making air-tight seal 39 wherestopper rim 40 engages base plate 28. Once disposable pipetter 24 hasbeen thus positioned, the tube is inverted and liquid 44 contained inblood tube 4 rests in the stopper end of the tube above the stopperspike 26 of the disposable pipetter 24 as shown. With the blood tube inthe inverted position, the volume of the liquid contained therein may bemeasured optically. If the tube were not inverted it would be moredifficult to measure the volume of blood serum or plasma containedtherein because the unknown volume of cellular matter in the bottom ofthe tube affects the surface level of the liquid portion. With the tubeinverted the volume of liquid is always measured from the datum of thestopper. The volume of liquid is then measured by liquid level sensor41. A metered amount of air is then forced through the air inputs 32,into the airgap 42, and further through air groove 34 pressurizing theinterior of the blood tube 4. As the blood tube 4 is pressurized, liquid44 is forced through the serum conduit 30 thereby dispensing it fromtube 4 into analyzer cup-16. Stopper spike 26 is made just long enoughso that serum conduit 30 reaches just inside of the blood tube with anopening positioned proximal to the interior surface of the tube stopper14 so that when liquid is being dispensed, virtually all the liquidwithin the tube is accessible. If the stopper spike 26 was too longthere would be a certain volume of liquid which could not be accessed bythe method of this invention because there would be some liquidpositioned between the opening of the liquid path and the interiorsurface of the stopper. Therefore the length of the stopper spike 26 ismade just long enough to reach just inside the thickest stoppers thatare to be processed. When processing tubes with thinner stoppers therewould be a small amount of inaccessible liquid. The tip of stopper spike26 may be made of a pourous material and made of so that it covers serumconduit 30 thereby providing a filter function in the tip of stopperspike 26. The filter function can also be achieved by making the openingof serum conduit 30 very small. This is an effective way to keep fibrinand other particulate from being dispensed into sample cup 16.

Again referring to FIG. 2b, liquid level sensor 41 consists of a groupof light emitting diodes 43 interleaved with optical sensors 47 whichutilize optical fibers 37a and 37b to position the sensors and lightsources in a fine linear array within level sensor 41. The light fromlight emitting diode 43 shines through optical fiber 37a into theinterior of tube 4 illuminating the contents of the tube. Optical sensor47 receives reflected light through optical fiber 37b indicative of thecontents of the tube nearest to that fiber. An optical fiber that islocated near a portion of the tube that has air just on the other sideof the tube wall receives a different amount of light than an opticalfiber that is positioned at a portion of the tube that has liquid juston the other side of the tube wall. In this way, knowing the position ofthe optical fibers which show an air/liquid interface and knowing theposition of the interior surface of stopper 14 it is possible tocalculate the volume of liquid 44 contained within tube 4. The volume ofavailable liquid is an important piece of information for aliquottingblood serum or plasma for analysis because if there is not enough serumor plasma to accomplish all of the desired tests, the automatedaliquotter (or an operator) must make decisions about how to bestdispense the liquid to accomplish the most important tests. Chromaticfilters may be used within level sensor 41 in order to determine varioussample quality parameters. For instance, hemolysis (characterized by redserum), icteris (characterized by very yellow serum) and lipemia(characterized by turbid serum) may be sensed by level sensor 41 equipedwith appropriate chromatic filters and be measured using colormetricmethods known in the art.

FIGS. 3a to 3d illustrate the steps required to aliquot a sampleaccording to the method of the present invention.

FIG. 3a shows the first step of inserting a disposable pipetter 24 intothe stopper of a separated blood tube 4. Blood tube 4, as depicted here,is of the type commonly used for blood collection and separation in theclinical laboratory and is of the type that has a physical barrier 45like that found in the SST Vacutainer™ made by Becton-Dickinson of EastRutherford, N.J. Disposable pipetter 24 is shown held in pipetter holder46. Pipetter holder 46 includes inner seal 48, outer seal 50, and airsupply 52. Pipetter holder 46 and blood tube 4 are brought togetherunder sufficient force to cause disposable pipetter 24 to puncturethrough tube stopper 14 and for base plate 28 to come to rest againststopper rim 40.

FIG. 3b shows the disposable pipetter 24 in its rest position afterinsertion into the tube stopper 14.

After the disposable pipetter 24 is inserted into the stopper 14 theintegrated assembly 54 comprising the blood tube 4, pipetter holder 46,and the disposable pipetter 24 is inverted as shown in FIG. 3c. Once theintegrated assembly 54 has been inverted, the liquid 44 comes to restabove stopper 14 and disposable pipetter 24 in the position shown. Thevolume of liquid available is then measured by liquid level sensor 41.An analyzer cup 16 is positioned beneath the serum spout 36 inpreparation to receive liquid such as serum or plasma from serum spout36. A controlled amount of air is then forced through air supply 52,though air inputs 32 into airgap 42 and further through air groove 34thus pressurizing the interior of blood tube 4. Pressurizing theinterior of blood tube 4 forces some of liquid 44 to pass through serumconduit 30 dispensing it from serum spout 36 into analyzer cup 16. Morethan one analyzer cup 16 may be used for a single blood tube bydispensing liquid 44 in successive dispensing operations. Inner seal 48and outer seal 50 seal against disposable pipetter 24 so as to confinegas to pass from air supply 52 through air inputs 32.

After a specific amount of serum or plasma has been dispensed from thetube into one or more sample cups pipetter holder 46 moves away fromblood tube 4 and the blood tube together with the disposable pipetter 24is released from pipetter holder 46 and is either stored for latertesting or is disposed of. FIG. 3d illustrates this release action.Although this phase of the operation is shown with the tube in avertical orientation, it is not necessary that it be so.

FIG. 4 illustrates the automated aliquotter module in a simplified formshowing important mechanical elements of the apparatus. Blood tube 4 isshown in tube cradle 56 which rotates about axle 58 in preparation fordispensing fluid according to the method depicted in FIGS. 3a to 3d.Pipetter holder 46 is located on tube cradle 56 and moves as shown underthe influence of an electric motor in order to push pipetter 24 throughstopper 14 and to hold pipetter 24 and tube 4 in place when cradle 56 isrotated. The movement of pipetter holder 46 and other machine motionsmay be achieved by other means such as pneumatic, hydraulic, or evenmanual means and therefore the use of an electric motor does notconstitute a limitation of the present invention. Also shown is gascylinder 60 which is actuated by linear drive motor 62 to supply ametered amount of gas to be injected into tube 4 causing fluid to bedispensed according to the method of the invention. Pipetter carriage 64supplies disposable pipetters 24 to pipetter holder 46 in an automatedfashion so that the apparatus may process a number of blood tubes one ata time each one using a pipetter. Carriage motor 66 moves disposablepipetters 24 into a position accessible to pipetter holder 46. Alsoshown is analyzer tray 12 holding a number of analyzer cups 16. Analyzertray is rotated about a central axis in order to position an analyzercup 16 beneath serum spout 36 of a tube that has been inverted by cradle56 and that is to have its contents dispensed.

In use, the apparatus depicted in FIG. 4 functions in the following way.Pipetters 24 are loaded into pipetter carriage 64 by an automatedhandler (not shown) or by hand in preparation for the operation ofaliquotter module 2. Blood tube 4, which is to have its contentsdispensed into analyzer cups 16, is loaded into tube cradle 56 in anautomated fashion depicted in FIG. 5a or by hand. Pipetter holder 46receives a disposable pipetter 24 from pipetter carriage 64. When bloodtube 4 has been positioned in tube cradle 56 and pipetter holder 46 haspositioned disposable pipetter 24 as shown, pipetter holder 46 movesdisposable pipetter 24 so that it punctures stopper 14 of blood tube 4and continues to supply a force to hold the tube within cradle 56 and tocause base plate 28 to seal against stopper rim 40. Integrated assembly54 is then inverted so that serum spout 36 is positioned above ananalyzer cup 16. With the assembly inverted, it is possible to opticallydetermine the volume of dispensable liquid within the blood tube forpurposes of making decisions regarding how the sample should be dividedbetween subcontainers. Once inverted, linear drive motor 62 underautomated control or manual control, moves piston 68 so that air isforced through air supply 52, through the disposable pipetter, and intothe inverted blood tube. As air is forced into blood tube 4 the liquidcontained therein is displaced through serum conduit 30 and into ananalyzer cup 16. If additional analyzer cups need to be filled, lineardrive motor 62 stops (thereby preventing further liquid to be dispensedfrom the blood tube) and analyzer tray 12 is rotated so that a differentanalyzer cup is positioned beneath serum spout 36. When a new analyzercup is positioned beneath the serum spout, linear drive motor 62 isagain engaged causing more of liquid 44 to be dispensed according to theprocedure outlined above. This procedure may be repeated to fill severalsample cups. When a sufficient amount of liquid 44 is dispensed fromblood tube 4 then blood tube 4 and disposable pipetter 24 are removedtogether from the apparatus by manual or automated handling means. Theresulting blood tube/pipetter assembly is then stored for later use oris disposed of.

FIGS. 5a to 5d illustrate further the operation of the automatedaliquotter module. Each of the figures show a front view beneath a sideview of tube cradle 56, blood tube 4, and pipetter holder 46.

Referring to FIG. 5a, blood tube 4 is loaded into tube cradle 56 bygravity from input tray 8. In this way a single blood tube is loaded inpreparation for dispensing the contents of the tube. Tube cradle 56 thenrotates until it is in the position indicated by FIG. 5b. In FIG. 5bpipetter holder 46 is shown as it is about to insert disposable pipetter24 into stopper 14 of of tube 4. Once pipetter 24 has been positioned bypipetter carriage 64 of FIG. 4 as shown, clamping motor 86 turns leadscrew 88 causing pipetter holder 46 to move towards blood tube 4.Pipetter holder 46 is stopped momentarily when it has grasped disposablepipetter 24 so as to allow pipetter carriage 64 (FIG. 4) to move out ofthe way. Pipetter holder 46 grabs hold of pipetter 24 by means of atight-fitting hole 90. Pipetter holder 46 then continues to move towardblood tube 4 until pipetter 24 is pierced through tube stopper 14 and isclamped against said stopper. Once disposable pipetter 24 is fullyinserted into stopper 14 and is clamped, tube cradle 56 rotates so as toposition blood tube 4 and disposable pipetter 24 as shown in FIG. 5c.When the position shown in FIG. 5c is achieved, the volume of availableliquid can be measured by liquid level sensor 41. A controlling computer(or the operator) then uses the volume information together withinformation regarding sample cup type, test requisitions, samplequality, and test priority to determine the most optimal division of theliquid among a number of sample cups. Liquid 44 is then dispensed inamounts corresponding to signals provided by the operator or thecontrolling computer. Once a desired amount of liquid has been dispensedinto one or more subcontainers, tube cradle 56 is rotated further intothe position illustrated by FIG. 5d. FIG. 5d shows how a blood tube thathas been aliquotted is unloaded from the aliquotter. Once tube cradle 56has been rotated to the position shown, pipetter holder 46 is moved awayfrom blood tube 4 leaving disposable pipetter 24 in tube stopper 14.Blood tube 4 with disposable pipetter 24 then moves into output tray 10under the influence of gravity. Tubes that are found in output tray 10are later removed manually for storage or disposal.

An alternate embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 6.Although this implementation is a manually operated one, it stillfunctions following the method of the present invention. Disposablepipetter 24 is inserted onto blood tube 4, the tube is then inverted anda gas such as air is injected into tube 4 causing liquid 44 to bedispensed from disposable pipetter 24 into analyzer cup 16. Insertion ofdisposable pipetter 24 into the stopper of blood tube 4 may beaccomplished manually. If this alternate embodiment is used tore-aliquot a sample which was previously had a portion of its contentsdispensed by an automated aliquotter (shown in FIG. 1), a disposablepipetter will have already been inserted into the stopper of blood tube4 and it may be used again.

FIG. 7 shows a cross-sectional view of the alternative embodiment of thealiquotter module. Components of the manual aliquotter module 70 includetrigger 72, air pump 74, air line 76, handle 78, tube holder 80, insideseal 82 and outside seal 84. Also shown are the blood tube 4, disposablepipetter 24 and analyzer cup 16.

In use, disposable pipetter 24 may be manually inserted through stopper14 of blood tube 4 in preparation for dispensing a portion of the liquidcontained in blood tube 4 into an analyzer cup 16. Assembly 86 resultingfrom the union of blood tube 4 and pipetter 24 is then loaded intomanual aliquotter module 70 by inserting the pipetter end of assembly 86in the end of tube holder 80 which contains inside seal 82 and thenforcing assembly 86 into the position illustrated in the figure. Asassembly 86 is being thus positioned within manual aliquotter module 70,inside seal 82 and outside seal 84 press against base plate 28 ofdisposable pipetter 24 to create a confined path for air to be forcedfrom air pump 74 through pipetter 24 into tube 4 thereby causing liquid44 to be dispensed from assembly 86 into analyzer cup 16. Once assembly86 has been positioned and said seals have been established then manualaliquotter module 70 is positioned so that liquid 44 is positionedsubstantially above stopper 14 as shown. Trigger 72 is then depressed inthe direction indicated by the arrow causing air pump 74 to displace airthrough air line 76, between inside seal 82 and outside seal 84, andfurther through disposable pipetter 24 into blood tube 4. As this air isdisplaced into tube 4, liquid 44 is then forced out of serum spout 36into analyzer cup 16. In this way liquid can be easily and safelydispensed from a closed blood collection tube using the apparatus andmethod of the present invention.

FIG. 8 shows the process control system for the automated aliquotter inblock diagram form. Control computer 100 controls the automatedaliquotter utilizing user supplied information, sensor-derivedinformation, and laboratory database information. User suppliedinformation enters via user I/O port 102 which, in the preferredembodiment, includes an alpha-numeric keypad. Control computer 100 alsorelays process and control information to the user through the user I/Oport 102. Information regarding sample identification and patientinformation contained within the laboratory database is relayed to andfrom control computer 100 through laboratory information system 104.Laboratory information system 104 is of a type typical in many largelaboratories. Motion control module 106 drives the various mechanicalmotions of the aliquotter by powering motors according to signalsprovided by control computer 100. Said motors include linear drive motor62 of FIG. 4 receiving said signals for dispensing a predeterminedvolume of sample liquid 44. Position and other information about thestatus of the motion systems is fed back to control computer 100 throughmotion control module 106. Sample identification module 108 allowsbarcode readers 114 to be interfaced with control computer 100 for thepurpose of identifying blood tubes and sample cups. This is an importantaspect of the control system because sample identification links theblood sample to information required to determine which testrequisitions are to be performed on the present sample and how thesample is to be divided. Sensor interface 110 receives signals fromvarious sensors and converts these signals into a form which can be usedby control computer 100. These sensors include serum quality sensor 112and liquid level sensor 114 as well as various process and statussensors. Serum quality sensor 112 and liquid level sensor 41 provideinformation to control computer 100 for making decisions about how todivide a sample among several sample cups for performing various tests.There may be more than one serum quality sensor 112 and each one may beconfigured to provide an indication of a different sample parameter.

FIG. 9 shows an alternate embodiment of the apparatus and method of thepresent invention. In this embodiment a modified disposable pipetter 120has angled spike 122 and bent serum spout 124. Apart from the generalshape of the bent serum spout 124 and the angled spike 122, the modifiedpipetter 120 is the same as disposable pipetter 24 of FIG. 2a. Modifiedpipetter 120 is inserted through stopper 14 of tube 4 according to thepreviously mentioned procedure described in FIG. 4, the tube is turnedabout axis 126 located near bent serum spout 124 causing liquid 44 torise up on the side of tube 4 facing the direction of rotation. Theturning continues causing liquid 44 to eventually reach the serumconduit found in angled spike 122. Liquid monitor 128 senses when theliquid 44 is at the angled spike 122. Air is then injected into tube 4according to the method described in FIG. 4 and liquid is displacedthrough the serum conduit of modified pipetter 120 into serum cup 16. Asliquid is being dispensed, tube cradle 56 continues to rotate away froma vertical, upright orientation. In this way the tip of angled spike 122remains submerged in liquid 44 allowing continued dispensing of liquid44. Dispensing and turning continue under control of a microcomputerthat is responsive to liquid monitor 128. Liquid monitor 128 is an arrayof fiber optic emitters and detectors like liquid level sensor 41 ofFIG. 2b and FIG. 3c. When liquid monitor detects cellular phase 130 nearthe tip of angled spike 122, the dispensing and turning are stopped. Thetube 4 and modified pipetter 120 are then ejected from the machinetogether. In this embodiment it is possible to dispense a sample whichdoes not have a fixed barrier between the blood phases.

Since many changes can be made in the construction of the abovedisposable pipetter, aliquotter module, and sensing apparatus, andapplications of the machine and process of the present invention withoutdeparting from the scope thereof, it is intended that all mattercontained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawingsshall be interpreted as illustrative and not in the limiting sense.Examples would be modification of the general shape of the disposablepipetter, variations in the control system, or a different configurationof the tube cradle and clamping mechanism. Accordingly, the invention isto be limited only by reference to the appended claims.

We claim:
 1. A pipette apparatus adapted for use in aliquotting liquidfrom a tube that has a pierceable stopper, comprising:a plate memberhaving an outer side and an inner side and an aperture formedtherethrough; and a tubular spike connected to and extending from theinner side of the plate member, the interior of the tubular spikedefining a liquid conduit extending therethrough in communication withthe aperture, the spike also having an air passage formed thereinadjacent to the liquid conduit thereby to permit the separate passage ofliquid through the conduit and air through the passage when the spike ispierced through a pierceable stopper.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1wherein the inner side of the plate member from which the spike extendsincludes a sealing surface portion for creating a seal between the platemember and stopper whenever the spike is pierced through the stopper,the plate member also having an inlet opening formed therethrough forproviding fluid communication between the outer side of the plate memberand the air passage in the spike while the plate member is sealedagainst the stopper.
 3. The apparatus of claim 2 further comprising aspout connected to the outer side of the plate member to extendtherefrom and arranged to dispense liquid from the liquid conduit andthrough the spout, the spout having an interior opening that iscontiguous with the liquid conduit.
 4. A pipette apparatus adapted foruse in aliquotting liquid from a tube that has a piercable stoppercomprising:a plate member having an outer side and an inner side and anaperture formed therethrough; a tubular spike connected to and extendingfrom the inner side of the plate member, the interior of the tubularspike defining a liquid conduit extending therethrough in communicationwith the aperture, the spike also having an air passage formed thereinadjacent to the liquid conduit thereby to permit the separate passage ofliquid through the conduit and air through the passage when the spike ispierced through a piercable stopper; the plate member having an inletopening formed therethrough for providing fluid communication betweenthe outer side of the plate member and the air passage in the spike; aspout connected to the outer side of the plate member to extendtherefrom, the spout having an interior opening that is contiguous withthe liquid conduit for dispensing liquid from the liquid conduit throughthe spout; a holder member movable against the outer side of the platemember, the holder member having a hole therein to permit the spout topass through the hole while the holder member is moved against the platemember; seal means for defining a substantially sealed chamber betweenthe holder member and the plate member, the chamber being incommunication with the air passage in the spike via the inlet opening;and pressure means for changing the pressure in the chamber thereby tofacilitate the flow of liquid through the liquid passage.
 5. Theapparatus of claim 1 wherein the spike extends at an angle oblique tothe inner side of the plate member so that in the direction away fromthe inner side of the plate member the spike gradually approaches theinterior wall of the tube whenever the spike is pierced through thestopper of that tube.
 6. The pipette apparatus of claim 1 wherein thespike has an exterior surface, and wherein the air passage comprises agroove formed in the exterior surface.
 7. The apparatus of claim 6wherein the groove formed in the spike is shaped to define, incombination with a stopper through which the spike is pierced, a portionof the air passage through the stopper.